The Minnesota Timberwolves offense is an enigma.
The ever-changing roster, Chris Finch’s tendency to rely on a free-flowing offense, and Tim Connelly’s precarious tendency to bet on talent over basketball feel have put the Timberwolves in a unique position.
Last season, Minnesota’s No. 1-ranked defense concealed its offensive issues during its Western Conference run. Meanwhile, people expected the Wolves’ late off-season swap of Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to be a stopgap for the team’s offensive identity while they benefited financially.
However, the trade didn’t immediately give the Wolves an offensive boost, leaving them in limbo. The Timberwolves have always had a talented roster, but their lack of cerebral offensive difference-makers caps their offensive ceiling.
The Timberwolves have showcased glimpses of connectivity, playing to each other’s strengths through simple actions. However, there are far too many ill-advised turnovers, which can lead to losing the possession battle, easy transition points, and momentum for the opponent.
Unforced errors and live ball turnovers continue to be exceedingly detrimental, particularly when they come on plays with poor outlet passing on defensive rebounds or when players get caught in the air looking for an open man.
Per Cleaningtheglass.com, which filters out garbage time, the Wolves rank 23rd in the NBA with a 16.1% turnover percentage (TO%). That puts them in the bottom third of the league in TO%, placing them among many of the league’s worst teams.
There are pockets in games where the Timberwolves string together consecutive turnovers or post 5+ turnovers in a quarter, which have created deficits they cannot overcome. Their offensive engines and lead initiators haven’t done enough to take care of the ball.
While limiting turnovers is vital, it doesn’t guarantee success. Turning the ball over is acceptable if it happens within the offensive scheme. For example, the Memphis Grizzlies have pushed the ball in transition more frequently, revitalizing their offense. While their 16.5 TO% ranks them 28th in the league, their 25.7% transition frequency and 34.9 transition points per game lead the league and have vaulted them to the top of the West for much of the season.
Finch installed a free-flowing half-court offensive structure after they hired him in 2020-21, and it hasn’t yielded enough positives to outweigh the lingering issues. Most of the roster’s rotational players lack the quick decision-making and high-IQ feel needed for the system to work out. The Timberwolves are too reliant on scoring in the half-court, ranking 26th in the NBA in half-court possession frequency.
Ideally, everything is interconnected. However, Minnesota’s disconnection starts with its primary ball handlers.
Building around Anthony Edwards has also presented challenges. Although Edwards has ample scoring talent, he’s only a budding playmaker and on-ball initiator.
However, Edwards’ elite pull-up scoring allows the Timberwolves to suppress some of their flaws. But Edwards can only drive so much offense through heavy isolation play. People give him a pass as a ball-stopper because he’s an elite scorer and has come a long way in a short time as a facilitator. Still, there’s plenty of room to grow as a connective team playmaker and offensive engine.
Randle is a dynamic interior scoring threat. He offers a punch through physical post-ups and short-range fadeaways. He showcases a high-level feel for finding perimeter players from the inside out and kicks the ball out with velocity.
Randle also shines as a short-roll decision-maker who can make quick decisions if the Wolves put him into the proper situation. Still, his ball-stopping tendencies in isolation and inability to move without the ball have held back Minnesota’s offensive connectivity and flow.
The Timberwolves have placed DiVincenzo into a more frequent on-ball usage role. Finch has also used DiVincenzo as a toggle point for Minnesota’s lineups. DiVincenzo has replaced Mike Conley in the starting part of the starting lineup over the last six games.
Even with Edwards initiating most of the offense, the Wolves rely on DiVincenzo to be a playmaker instead of strictly an off-ball shooter. Donte can make advanced passes but is much more suited for sporadic use than his extended starting lineup role.
After replacing Conley in the starting lineup, DiVincenzo’s TO% has skyrocketed from last season with the New York Knicks. It’s closer to what he had with the Golden State Warriors before arriving in New York.
- 2022-23 Golden State Warriors | 15.8% TO%
- 2023-24 New York Knicks | 10.4% TO%
- 2024-25 Minnesota Timberwolves | 15.2% TO%
DiVincenzo has struggled most with turning the ball over on drives, often being stuck mid-air around the rim.
Like with DiVincenzo, the Wolves have often pushed Nickeil Alexander-Walker a bit more as a ball-handler and initiator. Alexander-Walker is probably Minnesota’s best connective perimeter player. Alexander-Walker is at his best when he plays as a quick-decision off-ball playmaker who can knock down three-point looks. However, no opportunities are available for him to make that immediate change.
Conley has always organized the offense since the Wolves traded for him in 2023. However, with his recent decline in play and fewer minutes, the Timberwolves must limit one of their smartest players and best passers.
The Timberwolves must have defined roles for their top perimeter threats. Still, they don’t have nearly enough connecting pieces to accomplish their primary half-court offensive goals. Having multiple ball-handlers in Edwards, Randle, DiVincenzo, Alexander-Walker, and Conley is essential. However, there is a disconnect when the surrounding cast of Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert, and Josh Minott are more play-finishers than true ball movers.
Minnesota probably can’t make significant changes because of the strict in-season apron trading rules and how much Finch has baked his offensive principles into this roster. However, the Timberwolves need to grow through these synergistic struggles moving forward.
Fortunately, much of that comes by playing through each other, so there is room for growth as a unit. Regardless, the Timberwolves could find more of a balance between their roster building and team needs for Finch’s offensive schematics to be more fruitful and less detrimental to overall long-term success.